Among the inmates are four convicted murderers who served as trusties at the Governor's Mansion while Barbour was in office. Meanwhile dozens of former inmates are hoping to have their records wiped clean.

The court is expected to be asked Thursday to rule as quickly as possible - so both the inmates and crime victims and their families can have closure.

Attorney General Jim Hood contends that if the people who received pardons from Barbour didn't run ads in daily papers every day for 30 days, or weekly newspapers once a week for five weeks, the pardons are invalid under the state constitution.

The Supreme Court is not expected rule Thursday.

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